Sport Watches

Sports watches are just as stylish as they are functional, as well as timeless and elegant; it is no wonder that they are no longer worn solely during athletic activities or purely as tool watches. Not at all, they are often combined with business suits on casual occasions, during leisurely pastimes, or as a fashion statement at formal events. Whether you are interested in watches from Rolex, Omega, Sinn, or another brand, you will be sure to find something amongst the sports watches CHRONEXT offers.

Luxury sports watches for every occasion. How do you combine athleticism with luxury watches

Watch brands offer a wide selection of sports models with a large portion of these suited to fit the tastes of younger customers. The watch houses offer models with modern designs that are versatile, practical, and optimal for daily wear. Of course, these models are also of the highest quality with first-class designs and are made of the finest materials. These are models that boast excellent durability and are reliable companions to be worn to regular athletic affairs. Sports watches are a fundamental part of the world of watches and present some of the most modern, versatile, and elegant watches.

The right watch for the sportsman

It is certain that sports watches from the most eminent watch brands are a sensible alternative to classic wristwatches when undertaking strenuous activities. Yet the question remains as to whether a luxury sports watch should be worn during these activities at all. It is very much dependent on the type of sport, as well as the type of watch one wishes to wear. Materials such as gold are more vulnerable than steel or titanium and wristwatches with leather bands are not quite the right choice for athletic activities, since you are likely to perspire and this will damage to the leather. How much strenuous activity you should be doing with a sports watch is not a question with a clear answer as it varies from case to case.

One thing is clear: Sports watches are mostly tougher than other mechanical watches and they are designed for the purpose of aiding professionals during strenuous activities. Beyond this, they have greater water-resistance than other watches, which allows them to be submerged. A diving watch with a water-resistance of 300 metres can be worn during virtually any aquatic sport.

Furthermore, sports watches are extremely shock-resistant, so whether you are playing golf, tennis, or football, your watch and its movement are protected.

The beginning of the sports watch

The history of the watch is intimately intertwined with that of athletics. As early as the 19th century, watches were used to measure speeds in all types of sports, and so the chronograph was born. The invention of the chronograph stopwatch allowed for the timing of professional runners, swimmers, as well as automobiles.

Wristwatches only came onto the scene in the first half of the 20th century and came to be popular amongst military men and pilots. These individuals, by and large, came to respect the wristwatch as a practical and reliable tool in situations where it was often a matter of life and death. So, it was these men of the army and pilots who popularised the use of the wristwatch which had been worn primarily by women as jewellery up until that point.

Water-resistant wristwatches – a breakthrough in technology

A great leap in the development of sports watches came with the invention of water-resistant models. Rolex was a pioneer in the research behind wristwatches that could be worn under water, and created the Rolex Oyster, the first patented water-resistant watch in the world. The famous watchmaker staged a brilliant marketing stunt, providing the swimmer Mercedez Gleitze with a Rolex Oyster as she attempted to swim across the English Channel. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that the watch still worked without fault thereafter.

Sports watches are available both as men’s and women’s watches. Their design, as well as their functionality, make them popular amongst the variety of watches that are available.

Competitive sports and watches

Watchmakers don’t baulk when it comes to sports. In fact, plenty of watch brands are active sponsors and official timekeepers of competitive events. Hublot is an active sponsor in professional football and has even created several football-themed models. One example is the Hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Chrono FIFA Worldcup Brazil 2014, which was the official watch of the 2014 FIFA football World Cup in Brasil. Rolex is very active in Tennis and has been the official timekeeper of Wimbledon since 1978. Rolex doesn’t constrain itself to Tennis, though, and are also sponsors of other sports such as golf, where they not only support individual players but whole events.

Since 1932 Omega has been in cooperation with the Olympic Committee and, to this day, is the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. With their mastery of time, Omega has been a large contributor to the world of sports.

The top sports watches

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

The design of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is based on the extremely successful design Gérald Genta conceived for the original Royal Oak that was released in 1972. It was Emmanuel Gueit who reimagined the original Royal Oak, and it has taken the world of watches by storm: The Royal Oak Offshore line has become hugely successful and offers watch enthusiasts a great variety of different and many limited edition models.

Rolex Sea-Dweller

The Rolex Sea-Dweller could be described as the big brother of the Rolex Submariner, it being an even more robust version of the model, and that is saying a lot. Water-resistant to a depth of 4,000 feet, or 1,220 metres, the Sea-Dweller is another classic watch from the great house of Rolex. Finished to the same high standards as any watch from the eminent brand, it is a true diving watch through and through.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

The Seamaster Diver 300M from the famed watchmaker Omega is a spectacular diving watch that has a character all its own. It is well-known as a secret agent’s watch, as it was worn by Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond movies. With its bold colours, as well as Omega’s Co-Axial escapement technology, it makes for a superbly robust sports model that any watch owner can be incredibly proud to own.

Hublot Big Bang

The Hublot Big Bang is an exceptionally masculine sports watch with a design based on the porthole of a ship. It looks very intriguing with its bold lines and sharp edges in contrast to the appealing bezel. Still young relative to other watch brands, Hublot, founded in 1980, has enjoyed grand success with the popularity of their Big Bang models. The watch is often worn by celebrities and many sports stars – and it is no surprise, as the Hublot Big Bang, to put it simply, is an exceedingly stylish watch.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is a diving watch that came even before the Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster. Indeed, it is the archetype of modern diving watches in the world of horology. Blancpain themselves have a rich history, having been founded in 1735, it is now the world’s oldest watchmaking brand. The original design of the Fifty Fathoms has endured over the centuries and Blancpain also offers other variants of this excellent sports and diving watch.

TAG Heuer Formula 1

TAG Heuer is famed for their sports watches which are deeply connected with motorsports. The Formula 1 or also the TAG Heuer Monaco models embody the spirit of the brand: avant-garde luxury that pushes the envelope in watchmaking. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 is one of these striking watches.

IWC Aquatimer

Residing in Schaffhausen, IWC are an illustrious brand founded more than 140 years ago. They are the manufacturers of some the most impressive watches there are. Amongst these, of course, are their sports watches. The Aquatimer is a superbly engineered watch with a strikingly masculine design. As a tool, it is exceptionally robust with remarkable legibility well suited for diving. IWC prides themselves on their passion for technical expertise and innovation, and the IWC Aquatimer is a display of their unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Chopard Mille Miglia

The original Mille Miglia was a motorsports race that used to take place on the open road in Italy in the 1920s to 1950s. The race was resurrected in the 1970s as a rally for classic and vintage cars and in 1988 Chopard became the official timekeeper of the famous race. The Chopard Mille Miglia chronograph is an exceedingly bold sports watch, with an eye-catching racing theme, and an impressive flair. As is important for all sports watches, the dial is superbly legible, also showcasing a date aperture and a power reserve. Chopard have been creating wonderful watches since their founding in 1860 and the Mille Miglia is one more fine model in their selection of astounding watches.